K.L.M.

Not the Dutch airline, rather –

Kempley

At the heart of the ‘Golden Triangle', Daffodil Trail, Kempley is bordered by woodland walks through fields of wild native daffodils, wild garlic and wood annenomies.

Lindors

Built on the Mork Brook that flows into the River Wye the nine acre garden was originally set out in 1846.

There are over 70 varieties of trees at Lindors the oldest is believed to be a Copper Beech, closely followed by a Black Mulberry. Both are nearly 120 years old. There is also Cedar of Lebanon, Red Cedar, a 48 mtr Giant Redwood and a cider orchard.

The grounds and surrounds also contain a number of water features.

Continuing on to Tintern with its magnificent abbey ruins, river vistas and unique 'out of print' bookshop.

Much Marcle

Small village, big church. St Bartholomew’s dates from the 13th century and is of considerable architectural interest. The Norman tub font is mid 12th century and is the sole remaining relic of the Norman Church which once stood on the site. The church is composed of a 13th century chancel and nave, with the addition of a small 14th century chapel and a very imposing central tower, added in the 15th century.

Beside the church, hidden by trees, is the motte where Mortimer’s Castle once stood. It is thought that the church tower could have been built from the stone that once formed the castle walls. In the churchyard itself is a giant old oak with an internal seating area.

 





 






 

 Inside the church are several beautifully carved tombs. The most imposing tombs are those of Sir John Kyrle and his wife Sybil, which is located upon a high plinth of black marble, surmounted by the alabaster effigies. and the quite extraordinary painted effigy of Walter de Helyon in the north aisle of the nave. 

 
Also in the church is a small carving saved from the Cathederal in Ypres after it was bombed. 












Of particular interest as my Grandfather, wounded and working for the Imperial War Graves Commission established and maintained a number of first world war graves cemetries around Ypres/Popperinge.
 

 

About three miles north-north west of the village, on the eastern face of Marcle Ridge, a massive landslip, estimated at 60,000 cubic metres, took place over three days starting on 17 February 1575. Named "The Wonder", it was so large that full-grown trees were carried down the slope onto an adjoining property.

Opposite the old church track lies the path to Hellens House, the ramshackle Jacobean Manor House, containing lands and a sculpture park. In 1096 the Manor was granted to the de Balun family who witnessed the signing of the Magna Carta by King John. Thereafter by marriage, deed and gift it passed through the powerful Mortimer family to the Lords Audleys by 1301, who were created Earls of Gloucester in 1337. Among Hellens’ attractions are the haunted rooms prepared for Mary Tudor and her tutor Fetherstone; the Stone Hall and its great fireplace bearing the Black Prince’s crest and the Minstrel Gallery. To the rear Hallwood woodland is a SSSI (a site of special scientific interest).

 

 It's also been a great lambing seasons

Golden Triangle 2016

Know I've waxed a bit lyrical about the daffs this year but the conditions have been just right and the gardens and wood around Gloucester are carpeted in gold. Wild daffodils flower from February to early April in the UK and are blooming in the woods, meadows, hedgerows, gardens and some churchyards. In north Gloucestershire/South Herefordshire, many of the sites have been joined together by the creation of a circular walk called the Daffodil Way.

The Daffodil Weekend

Oxenhall

Oxenhall is a small village situated in the north of the district, renowned for its wild daffodils.  Every year Oxenhall is host to its annual Daffodil Weekend in March, taking in amazing woodland walks. The Dymock Woods site comprises Dymock Wood, Daw's coppice, Betty Daw's Wood and Colonel's Grove.

Betty Daw's Wood is a large ancient woodland best known for its spectacular show of wild daffodils but it also contains a wealth of other plants and animals such as the wild service tree, small-leaved lime and rare wood white butterfly.

Kempley

The village, apart from the Daffodil Way, is probably best known for the Kempley Tardis, a redundant telephone box, containing local information and walking maps of the area (one house in the village has a real Tardis!) 

St Mary's Church, Kempley has in its chancel "the most complete set of Romanesque frescos in northern Europe", some created as early as 1120. On the walls of the nave are further images, including a wheel of life, showing the life cycle of man. These are worked in tempera painted on dry lime mortar, unlike those in the chancel which are true frescoes. The Church has the oldest roof of any building in Britain, dating from 1120-1150 and has an unusually well-preserved interior.

The Church of St Edward built in 1903 was described by Betjeman as "a mini-cathedral of the Arts and Crafts movement", built from local materials and local labour. The church was planned by the Lord of the Manor and major landowner, William Lygon, 7th Earl Beauchamp, because St Mary's was too far away from the main centres of population in the parish at Kempley Green and Fishpool, and liable to flooding. The walls of the church are in Forest of Dean red sandstone.

time for a well earned rest

before ending where we began the daffodil way, at Dymock. As last year we shared tea and cake with the owners of vintage Morgan V-twins.

Wicked Weekend

It was the  second part of Sis's chrissie pressie (did Strictly Live in Glasgow earlier in the year) this weekend it was Wicked in Bristol.

Escaping Munchkins :)

Map to the Emerald City

A sort of adult type pantomime noir it was a solid production with strong leads 'Gravity' being the memorable number.

Sis was due back on the 10am from Gloucester but due to a terminal jumper on the line north of Bristol all trains were cancelled, no one knew for how long and no replacement bus service. Jean had a connection in Brum in an hour and a half so we grabbed her + a goerdie couple trying to get back to Newcastle, bundled them and suitcases into the back of the car n headed for the M5. The motorway was unusually clear n got there in under an hour. Almost got to the station but all the roads had been dug up due to the Bullring revamp so disgorged passengers and luggage and they ran the last few hundred yards to New Street. Jean made her train with about 5 mins :) Good deed for the day done :)

M and I returned to continue our planned day of walking the daffodil woods at Kemply (the first of the three daffy weekends in the Golden Triangle). Lovely wander but despite a fairly mild winter the daffs were not as far on as last year though there were still many pleasing clumps of gold and catkins on the walk.

... and some of our own home grown